Catholic hospital group says it is satisfied with administration's contraceptive compromise

Jul 11 2013

The Catholic Health Association, which has sided with the administration before on the law, said the plan will allow employees to get birth control coverage without the hospitals paying for it.

Modern Healthcare: CHA Satisfied With Obama Administration's Contraception Solution
The Catholic Health Association, one of the Obama administration's most reliable allies in passing and promoting the healthcare reform law, has made peace with the contraception provision that distressed many of its members. After months of talks between church officials and the White House, the CHA said in a memorandum to Catholic healthcare providers ... the organization is satisfied with the administration's solution for ensuring workers have access to contraception at no out-of-pocket cost while not compelling religious employers to pay for it or arrange it (Selvam, 7/9).

NPR: Catholics Take Sides Over Health Law's Birth Control Policy (Audio) 
A trade group for Catholic hospitals says a new Obama administration policy on birth control is just fine. That's in sharp contrast to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which continues to battle against the policy, which exempts churches, synagogues and mosques, but requires other institutions run by religious organizations to cover birth control under employees' health insurance (Rovner, 7/9).

The Associated Press: Catholic Hospitals Accept Birth Control Compromise
In a split with U.S. bishops, a trade group for Catholic hospitals said Tuesday it can accept the Obama's administration latest compromise on birth control coverage by religious employers. … Under President Barack Obama's health care law, most employers are required to cover birth control as a free preventive service for women workers. Churches and other houses of worship are fully exempt from the mandate. But religiously affiliated hospitals, universities and social service groups are not (Zoll, 7/9).